Rendering or reducing apparatus.



N0. 803,050. PATENTED OCT. 31, 1905.

E. R. EDSON & B. P. SILLIMAN. RENDERING OR REDUCING APPARATUSAPPLICATION FILED T13R16, 1903.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EUGENE RILEY EDSON AND BENJAMIN F. SILLIMAN, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO,ASSIGNORS TO THE EDSON REDUCTION MACHINERY COM- PANY, OF AUGUSTA, MAINE,A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

RENDERING OR REDUCING APPARATUS- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 31, 1905.

Application filed February 16, 1903. Serial No. 143,570.

To (ZZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, EUGENE RILEY EDsoN and BENJAMIN F. SILLIMAN,citizens of the United States of America, residing at Cleveland, in thecounty of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new anduseful 1m provements in Rendering or Reducing Apparatus; and we dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit pertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for rendering orreducing any matter, vegetable or animal, capable of yielding grease andoil.

The object of this invention is to extract oil and grease from the saidmaterial rapidly and thoroughly by heating the material within a closedreceptacle having a dome and subjecting it during its treatment withinthe receptacle to a continuous pneumatic pressure introduced into thedome and greater than the pressure which results from the heating of thematerial and effecting a rise of the liberated grease and oil into thedome and separating the risen grease and oil from the dome, theninterrupting the pneumatic pressure and treating and drying the residuewithin the same receptacle to form a marketable product.

With this object in view and to the end of realizing other advantageshereinafter appear ing the said invention consists in certain featuresof construction and combinations of parts hereinafter described, andpointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation, largely insection, of apparatus which constitutes the subject-matter of thisapplication. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the stirring-shaft ofthe apparatus and shows one of the stirring-arms ol' the said shaft inlongitudinal section. Fig. 2 is drawn on a larger scale than Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, A designates a receptacle which is in theform of a horizontally-arranged cylinder, into which the material,animal or vegetable matter and capable of yielding oil and 'grease, isplaced for treatment to extract grease and oil from the material. Thereceptacle A is a closed container provided at the top and centrallybetween its ends with a dome a, whose interior chamber forms an upwardextension and communicates with the interior chamber of the body portionof the receptacle. The dome a consists, preferably, of avertically-arranged cylindrical shell closed at its upper end by a head6, which is removably secured to the said shell by suitably-appliedbolts and nuts, as at 0. The dome a constitutes the charging-inlet ofthe receptacle A.

A closed heating-jacket B surrounds and extends longitudinally of thereceptacle A. A steam-supply pipe D is provided with two branches d andd, which discharge into opposite ends, respectively, of the chamber ofthe jacket B. Each branch pipe 61 is provided with a normally closedvalve 5.. The jacket B is provided at the bottom with drain-pipes E,which have normally closed valves 0.

The receptacle A is provided at the bottom and centrally between itsends with a downwardly-extending duct or outlet F, at which isdischarged the marketable product contained in the receptacle upon thetreatment of the residue remaining after the removal of the grease andoil from the material treated within the said receptacle. The outlet Fis normally closed at its lower end by a suitablyapplied door or head f.

A compressed-air reservoir G is arranged in any convenient placeexternally of the receptacle A, and a pipe H communicates at one endwith the chamber of the said reservoir and discharges at its oppositeend into the upper portion of the interior chamber of the dome a. Saidpipe H is provided with a normally closed valve it. An air-pump g hasits outlet communicating with the interior chamber of the reservoir Gand is operated whenever required to maintain the desired pneumaticpressure within the said reservoir.

A pipe K communicates at its receiving end with the lower portion of theinterior chamber of the dome at below the discharging end of theair-conducting pipe H and ashort distance above the lower extremity ofthe said dome, and consequently above the interior chamber of the bodyportion of the receptacle A. The pipe K is provided with a normallyclosed valve and leads to any convenient place where it discharges intoa tank or receptacle J.

A water-supply pipe L discharges into the duct F through an aperture 35,with which the casing of the said duct is provided. The pipe L isprovided with a normally closed valve Z. A pump m is arranged in theline of the pipe L. The duct F is provided also with a drainpipe N,which has a normally closed valve n and communicates with the said ductthrough an aperture 36, with which the casing of the said duct isprovided. The apertures 35 and 36 are preferably arranged directlyopposite each other, and consequently at the same elevation.

A stirring-shaft Q is arranged horizontally and centrally andlongitudinally of the receptacle A. The shaft Q extends longitudinallythrough the receptacle A and is operatively provided at one end,externally of the said receptacle, with a gear 6, which meshes with apinion 7, operatively mounted upon a suitably-supported driving-shaft8,to which power 1 is applied in any approved manner. The shaft Q hasbearing in boxes 10, arranged at the ends and externally of thereceptacle A, which boxes are rigid with brackets 12, secured to thesaid receptacle. The shaft Q is provided interiorly and centrally with apassage-way 13, which extends from within the gear-bearing end of theshaft to the opposite extremity of the shaft, and a fluid-conductingpipe P discharges into the said passage-way at the last-mentionedextremity of the shaft. The shaftQ is provided with a stuffing-box 14:around the pipe P. The shaft Q, is providedwithlaterally-projectingandradially-arranged stirring-arms 15, which arespaced equidistantly longitudinally of the shaft. Each arm 15 has aninterior passage-way 16, which extends longitudinally of the arm, asshown more clearly in Fig. 2. Each arm 15 is round and externallyscrew-threaded at its inner end and screwed into acorrespondingly-screw-threaded aperture 17, formed in a collar 18, whichis mounted upon and adjustable endwise of the shaft Q, being secured tothe said shaft in the desired adjustment by asuitably-applied setscrew'19, and the aforesaid passage-way 16 communicates at its inner end withthe passage-way 13, formed in the said shaft through a lateral aperture20, with which the said shaft is provided at the inner end of the saidarm. Each arm 15 is provided at its outer end with a shovel or blade 22,which projects from the arm in the direction in which the said arnnrevolves during the rotation of the shaft, which therefore rotates whenoperated in the direction indicated by the arrow. Each shovel or blade22, as shown in Fig. 2, has an arm or shank 23 engaging and secured to asocket 2 1, formed by the outer end of the arm 15, which bears the saidblade or shovel. Each arm 15 is provided at the inner end of its socket24 with discharge-orifices 25, arranged to dischargein a directionopposite to the direction in which the said arm revolves during therotation of the shaft Q.

A compressed-air holder is provided and consists, preferably, of twohorizontally-arranged interiorly-chambered plates or heads R, located asuitable distance apart vertically, and pipe-sections r, connecting thesaid heads together and establishing communication between the interiorchambers of the said heads. A reservoir 0, in which ozone under pressureis stored, is also provided. The pipe P is provided with two branches Tand U. The pipe T communicates with the interior chamber of the upperhead R and is provided with a normally closed valve 2?. The pipe Ucommunicates with the chamber of the reservoir 0 and is provided with anormally closed valveu. An air-conducting pipe w discharges into theinterior chamber of the lower head R and communicates with the outlet ofan air-pump W, operated whenever required to maintain the desiredpneumatic pressure within the compressed-air holder, which'consists, asal-- ready indicated, of the heads R and the pipesections 1" and issurrounded by a heatingjacket w. The pipe D has another branch 3, whichcommunicates with the chamber of the jacketwand is provided with anormally closed valve 4. The jacket in is provided at the bot tom with adrain-pipe 27, which has a normally closed valve 28.

A vapor-conducting pipe 30 communicates at its receiving end with theupper portion of the interior chamber of the dome a a suitable distanceabove the receiving end of the pipe K. A pump or suction-creating devicey is arranged in the line of the pipe 30, which is provided between thesaid suction-creating device and the dome with a normally closed valve32.

The head f is arranged in the main snugly within the duct F next belowthe apertures 35 and 36 and has an annular flange 37, which overlaps thelower end of the casing of-the said duct and is secured to the saidcasing removably by means of screws 38.

A screen S, suitably applied interiorly of the duct F, is arranged asrequired to prevent solid particles from passing with liquid into thepipe N.

In operating the hereinbefore-described apparatus the head or cover 6 ofthe dome a is removed, and the material requiring treatment isintroduced through the said dome into the receptacle A, which is filledwith material up to the lower end of the dome. When the receptacle A hasbeen supplied with material, the head or cover 7) is closed and thevalve /L of the pipe H is opened to supply air under pressure to theinterior chamber of the dome and results in placing the mass of materialwith which the receptacle A has been charged under a pneumatic pressure.The valves 5 of the branch steam pipes d are then opened to supply steamto the chamber of the heating-jacket B, and a pressure of steam whichwill'heat quickly and thoroughly sa'y a pressureof about twenty- IIO Thepneumatic pressure on top of the mass five pounds per square inch-isemployed; but so high a pressure of steam Would, unless the mass ofmaterial Within the receptacle A Were kept q uiet by some other agency,result in boiling the mass,and consequently in an emulsification of theoil and grease and other liquid matter of the mass. Hence air undersufficientpressure is admitted into the dome of the receptacle A throughthe pipe H upon opening the valve h preparatoryto the heating of themass. A pneumatic pressure greater than the pressure which results fromany heating of the material is necessary to prevent emulsificationduring the treatment of the material, and consequently a pressure ofabout thirty pounds per square inch in the dome of the receptacle isadequate against twenty-five pounds of steam-pressure employed inheating the mass.

and supplied to the interior chamber of the dome a is applied beforeagitation or ebullition of the material from fermentation or heat ispossible, and the mass is continuously kept under the requisitepneumatic pressure during the treatment of the material within thereceptacle A. Oil and grease contained within the material undergoingtreatment and liberated during the treatment of the material rise to thetop of the mass and into the dome a, whence the risen grease and oil, assoon as the level of the same reaches a point above the bottom of theinlet of the pipe K, pass into the said pipe and through the latter,upon opening the valve 7v, into the tank or receptacle J, and thepneumatic pressure estal lished and maintained Within the dome afacilitates the passage of the risen grease and oil from the said domethrough the said pipe. The material is digested under pneumatic pressuregreater than the pressure of the heat applied Without adding moisture tothe moisture contained by the material. The layer of grease and oilhaving formed at the top of the mass during the treatment of thematerial Within the receptacle A is caused to rise upwardly into thedome a by pumping Water into the lower portion of the interior chamberof the said receptacle, and the Water thus supplied to the saidreceptacle is conducted into said receptacle by and through the pipe Lupon opening the valve land operating the pump m. The Water thusintroduced into the receptacle A permeates the mass and, as the level ofthe water rises in the said receptacle, opens any pockets Which confineoil and grease in the mass and are formed by a gathering to gether ofsolid pieces of the mass and liberates any oil and grease stillremaining Within the mass and enables and facilitates the rise of suchgrease and oil to the top of the mass. The Water thus supplied to thechamber of the receptacle A is at the ordinary temperature, or at atemperature at least less than 212 Fahrenheit, so as to positivelyavoidebullition and emulsification upon contact of the said Water withthe mass. When the grease and oil have practically all been extractedfrom the material treated Within the receptacle A and conducted from themass through the interior chamber of the dome a and the connected pipeK, the supply of Water to the receptacle A through the pipe L is cut ofiby interrupting the operation of the pump m and closing the valve Z, andthe pneumatic pressure upon the mass is interrupted by closing the valve7L and opening the valve 32 of the pipe 30, and the Water and anysolution such, for instance, as a solution of gelatin is drained fromthe said receptacle through the pipe N upon opening the valve n, and theflow of liquid to the said pipe N is facilitated by operating the shaftQ, to disintegrate or stir the material, because any Water or liquidWhich may be confined in pockets formed in the mass is liberated uponbreaking or opening such pockets by stirring the mass. The arrangementof the head f next below the bottom of the apertures 35 and 36 of thecasing of the duct F prevents liquid remaining Within the said duct andupon the said head after the draining of liquid through the pipe N. Thenthe free and drainable Water or liquid remaining with the mass after theinterruption of the pneumatic pressure upon the mass has been drained,as aforesaid, the suction-creating device 1 is operated to createsuction Within the interior chamber of the dome a and pull off anyvapors and gases entering and rising Within the said dome and facilitatethe passage of gases and vapors from the residue remaining in thereceptacle A. The said residue is heated and dried Within the receptacleA, and any free moisture contained and held by the said residue and notdrained through the pipe N is evaporated and escapes in the form ofvapor through the pipe 30. When all of the free moisture contained orheld by said residue has been eliminated, the operation of the suctioncreating device 3 is interrupted and heated air is admitted anddistributed throughout the mass in quantities sufficient to materiallyparticipate in oxidizing and granulating the mass. Heated air is thusadmitted to the mass upon opening the valve t so as to cause hot airunder pressure to pass from Within the upper head R of the hot-airholder through the branch pipe T and through the pipe P into' thepassage-Way 13 interiorly of the shaft Q, and thence through theinterior pas sage-Ways 16 of the shaft-arms 15 and through the orifices25 into the mass, and said shaft is rotated during the passage of hotair into the mass so as to distribute the hot air throughout the mass.The temperature of the hot air thus introduced into the mass may rangefrom 212 to 300 Fahrenheit or exceed 300 Fahrenheit, depending upon thenature of the material treated and the resulting product desired.Preferably saidmass is also ozonized by closing the valve t, if notalready closed, and opening the valve 24, whereupon ozone under pressurewill pass from the reservoir through the branch pipe U and through thepipe P into the interior passage-way of the shaft Q, and thence throughthe interior passage-ways 16 of the shaft-arms l and through theorifices into the mass, and said shaft is rotated to distribute theozone throughout the mass. The introduction and distribution of ozonewithin the mass is found to be valuable in deodorizing and oxidizing theresulting product, which being dry and granular constitutes a marketableproduct suitable for use as feed or other purpose, according to thenature of the original material. The resulting product is removable fromthe receptacle A through the duct F upon removing the head f.

' simultaneously with this application and bearing Serial No. 143,571.

What we claim is i 1. Rendering or reducing apparatus comprising areceptacle provided, at the top, with a dome which has a removable heador cover and an interior chamber communicating with the interior chamberof the body portion of the receptacle, which receptacle is provided, atthe bottom, with a downwardly-discharging suitably-closed duct oroutlet; means for heating the receptacle; avalved air-conducting pipecommunicating with the interior chamber of the dome a suitable distanceabove the lower end of the dome; means for supplying air under pressureto the said pipe; a valved vapor-conducting pipe communicating with thesaid dome-chamber; means for creating suction within thevapor-conducting pipe; a valved liq uid-conducting pipe communicatingwith the said dome-cham ber between the lower end of thedome and thedischarging end of the aforesaid air-conducting pipe; means for pumpinga liquid into the said duct; a valved drainp1pe communicating with thesaid duct; a shaft arranged centrally and longitudinally of thereceptacle and provided interiorly with a passageway which extendslongitudinally of the shaft, which shaft has laterally-projecting armsprovided interiorly with passage-Ways extending longitudinally of thearms and communicating with the passageway in the shaft, which arms areprovided with discharge-orifices, and means for supplywhich receptacleis provided, at the bottom, with a suitably-closed discharge duct oroutlet; means for heating the receptacle; a valved air-conducting pipecommunicating with the interior chamber of the dome a suitable distanceabove the lower end of the dome; means for supplying air under pressureto the said pipe; a valved vapor-conducting pipe communicating with thesaid dome chamber; means for creating suction within the saidvapor-conducting pipe; a valved liquid-conducting pipe communicatingwith the said dome-chamber between the lower end of the dome and thedischarging end of the aforesaid air-conducting pipe; means forsupplying water to the receptacle; means for drain-.

ing liquid from the receptacle; a shaft arranged centrally andlongitudinally of the receptacle and provided interiorly with a passageway extending longitudinally of the shaft, which shaft haslaterally-projecting arms provided interiorly with passage-waysextending longitudinally of the arms and connecting, at their innerends, with the passageway in the shaft, which arms are provided, attheir outer ends, with discharge-orifices, and means for supplying fluidto the lastmentioned passage-way.

I 3. Rendering or reducing apparatus comprising a receptacle provided,at the bottom, with a suitably-closed duct or outlet; means for heatingthe receptacle; a valved air-con ducting pipe communicating with theinterior of the receptacle at the top of the receptacle; means forsupplying air under pressure to the said pipe, a valved vapor conductingpipe communicating with the interior of the receptacle at the top of thereceptacle; means for creating suction within the vapor-conducting pipe;a valved liquid-conducting pipe com municating with the interior of thereceptacle at the top of the receptacle; means for pumping a liquid intothe aforesaid duct; a shaft arranged centrally and longitudinally of thereceptacle and provided interiorly with a passage-way which extendslongitudinally of the shaft, which shaft has laterally projecting armsprovided interiorly with passage-ways extending longitudinally of thearms and communicating with the passage-way in the shaft, which arms areprovided with discharge-orifices, and means for supplying an oxidizingagent under pressure to the last-mentioned passage-way.

4. Rendering or reducing apparatus comprising a receptacle provided, atthe top, with a dome which has an interior chamber communicating withthe interior chamber of the body portion of the receptacle, whichreceptacle is provided, at the bottom, with a suitably-closed dischargeduct or outlet; means for heating the receptacle; a valvedair-conducting pipe communicating with the interior chamber of the domea suitable distance above the lower end of the dome; means for supply-IIO ing air under pressure to the said pipe; a valved vapor-conductingpipe communicating with the said dome-chamber; means for creatingsuction within the said vapor-conducting pipe; a valved liquid-conducting pipe communicating with the said dome-chamber; means forsupplying liquid to the receptacle; means for draining liquid from thereceptacle; a shaft arranged centrally of the receptacle and providedinteriorly with a passage-way extending longitudinally of the shaft,which shaft has laterally-projecting arms provided interiorly withpassage ways which extend longitudinally of the arms and connect, attheir inner ends, with the passage-way in the shaft, which arms areprovided, at their outer ends, with discharge-orifices, and means forsupplying fluid to the last-mentioned passageway.

5. Rendering or reducing apparatus comprising a receptacle provided, atthe top, with a dome which has a head or cover and an interior chambercommunicating with the interior chamber of the body portion of thereceptacle, which receptacle is provided, at the bottom, with asuitably-closed discharge duct or outlet; means for heating thereceptacle; a valved air-conducting pipe communicating with the interiorchamber of the dome a suitable distance above the lower end of the dome;means for supplying air under pressure to the said pipe; a valvedvapor-conducting pipe communicating with the said dome-chamber; meansfor creating suction within the said vapor-conducting pipe; a valvedliquid-conducting pipe communicating with the said dome-chamber betweenthe lower end of the dome and the discharging end of the aforesaidair-conducting pipe, and means for pumping liquid into the receptacle atthe bottom of the receptacle.

6. Rendering or reducing apparatus comprising a receptacle provided, atthe top, with a dome which has its interior chamber communicating withthe interior chamber of the body portion of the receptacle, whichreceptacle is provided at the bottom with a suitably-closed dischargeduct or outlet; means for heating the receptacle; means for maintainingthe mass which is treated within the receptacle under a pneumaticpressure greater than the pressure resulting from the heating of thematerial; means for conducting vapor from the said dome-chamber; avalved liquidconducting pipe communicating with and at one side of thesaid dome-chamber, and means for pumping liquid into the receptacle atthe bottom of the receptacle.

7.. Rendering or reducing apparatus comprising a receptacle provided, atthe top, with a dome which has its interior chamber communicating withthe interior chamber of the body portion of the receptacle, whichreceptacle is provided with a suitably-closed discharge duct or outlet;means for heating the receptacle; means for maintaining, within thedome, a pneumatic pressure greater than the pressure which results fromthe heating of the material; means for conducting from the dome, anyliquid rising upwardly into the dome the requisite distance; means foradding to the contents of the receptacle from the bottom of thereceptacle, and means for conducting vapor from within the dome.

8. Rendering or reducing apparatus comprising a receptacle provided, atthe top, with a dome whose interior chamber communicates with theinterior chamber of the body portion of the receptacle; means forheating material to be treated in the receptacle; means for supplyingair under pressure to the last-mentioned chamber; a vapor-conduptingpipe communicating with the dome chamber; means for interrupting thepassage of vapor through the vapor-conducting pipe; means for creatingsuction within the vapor-conducting pipe; a valved liquid-conductingpipe communicating with the dome-chamber; means for pumping water intothe receptacle; a shaft arranged within the receptacle and providedinteriorly with a passage-way extendinglon gitudinally of the shaft,which shaft has laterallyprojecting arms provided interiorly withpassage-ways communicating with the passage-way in the shaft, which armsare provided with outlets leading from the passageways in the arms anddischarging into the receptacle, and means for supplying fluid to thepassage-way in the shaft.

Signed by us at Cleveland, Ohio, this 28th day of January, 1903.

EUGENE RILEY EDSON. BENJAMIN F. SILLIMAN. Witnesses:

C. H. DORER, TELSA SCHWARTZ.

